Stacking Stones​A Creative Craft Blog

From the mind of Jason Kapcala comes an eclectic journal dedicated to the study of creative writing, rock music, tailgating, and other miscellany. The musings, meditations, contemplations, and ruminations expressed here are my own unless otherwise indicated. Please feel free to share your comments, thoughts, and opinions, but do so respectfully and intelligently.

Only weeks until Thanksgiving, so if I'm going to squeeze in a turkey dish, it has to be now. This week on Sunday Afternoon Tailgate, I'll be cooking up two old favorites as the Eagles head to historic Lambeau Field to take on the Packers. As always, these will be dishes that are delicious and filling, but easy enough for those of you who are weekend warriors in the kitchen.

Honey Mustard Turkey Meatballs

This recipe comes from my mom, and it's been a longtime New Year's Day favorite. These mini meatballs taste great on their own or can be picked up with a slider bun and eaten as a sandwich. Their tangy flavor is sure to keep guests coming back for more!

In a saucepan, combine the pepper, pineapple juice, honey, onion powder, and cornstarch, and bring the combination to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 2 minutes before reducing the heat. Stir in the mustard until smooth.

Brush the meatballs with about 1/4 of the sauce, and return them to the oven to cook for 10 more minutes.

After cooking, serve the meatballs in the remaining sauce.

Note: If you have a crock pot or slow cooker, you can transfer these meatballs once they are cooked and keep them warm throughout the game. That said, don't use up your only slow cooker because we're going to need one for our next recipe . . . .

Hot Reuben Spread

Crock pots or slow cookers are an often undervalued kitchen appliance. (You add your ingredients and forget about them, what's not to love?) This old favorite takes the ingredients of one of the most iconic sandwiches in the world (and man's best gameday friend), and combines them in a hot spread that tastes great on crackers, pretzels, or toast.

PAM cooking spray (I use a disposable plastic slow cooker liner so that I don't have to clean up afterwards, so I skip this ingredient)

1 8 oz. Brick of cream cheese, softened(you can use 1/3 less fat, but don't use fat free)

3/4 c. Bavarian sauerkraut, rinsed and drained (Bavarian-style kraut is flavored with caraway seeds and brown sugar and is available in the canned food section of most supermarkets)

1/2 c. Thousand Island dressing

1 Bag of shredded Swiss cheese (12 oz.)

At least 1/2 lb. chopped corned beef (I used sliced corned beef from the deli to save money this time, and I chopped it by hand)

6-8 Sweet gherkins, chopped

Crackers and a miniature cocktail rye loaf

Spray the inside of your slow cooker (if using this method), and add all of the ingredients except for the crackers/bread and mix well. Cook on low for 1-2 hours. That's it!

This will keep for hours on Low, so it's a great dish that will last through the entire game.

Jacketed Pretzels and Kettle Corn

In between games, it's nice to have a little something to snack on. Pretzels are a time honored game time snack, of course. And chocolate covered pretzels are one of those great holiday gift foods. They're also easy to make.

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the caramels with one TBSP of water, heating until melted at 1-minute intervals, stirring.

Dip 2/3 of your pretzels into the caramels, covering half the pretzel rod. Lay the pretzels on the wax paper and let them set.

Once they are set, put your chocolate chips in 3 separate microwave-safe bowls with a TBSP of butter in each, and heat until melted at 30-second intervals, stirring.

Dip the pretzels with the caramel on them in either the dark chocolate or white chocolate. (Aim for variety.) You can also use a spoon and drizzle a second flavor over the first in zig-zag lines after you've dipped your pretzel. (In other words, dip your pretzel in the white chocolate, and then drizzle some of the dark chocolate over it as you rotate the pretzel.)

To make the mint sticks, take the pretzel rods that have not been dipped in caramel already, and dip them in the melted mint chip mixture.

Roll each of your pretzels in the toppings of your choice.

Set the pretzels on the wax paper and let stand until the chocolate sets.

Do not refrigerate this snack. Instead, store in an airtight container.

I also purchased a large bag of freshly popped kettle corn from "Wild West Kettle Corn and Pork Rinds" at the annual Mountaineer Week Festivalhere on West Virginia University's campus.

Wild west, indeed.

Drink Recommendation

Beer: Leffe Blond

Described as an "authentic blond abbey beer with a slight hint of bitterness to it" this draft reminds me of some of the shandy's that come out in late summer and autumn. It's rich gold in color (almost orange), with a thick, foamy head and notes of citrus (and possibly corriander?). If you like Blue Moon, Shock Top, or Leinenkugel, you'll probably enjoy this refreshing Belgian ale.

EAGLES PREDICTION: Win -- Against the Packers? Are you crazy? This is the kind of prediction I wouldn't have dreamed of making even a week ago, but a lot has changed. With Aaron Rodgers out with a shoulder injury and Nick Foles coming off an NFL-record 7 TD game, the Eagles have a real shot here. I don't see Seneca Wallace being the answer in Green Bay (even after a week to practice with the first string), and I think it's going to be a few weeks before The Pack bounces back. The perfect chance for the Eagles to steal one here.

MY RECORD: 6-3

All recipes listed above come from my own imagination unless otherwise indicated. If you try one of these recipes in your own kitchen, leave a comment below and tell me how it goes. And, of course, share your modifications, enhancements, improvements, etc.